Kromer Discusses New Role, Previews Season Opener

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Opening Statement
“We have some active roster moves that we made (this weekend). We waived Jonathon Amaya, claimed number 25 safety Rafael Bush who was in (training) camp at Denver. We terminated corner Elbert Mack, claimed number 31 cornerback Jerome ...

“We have some active roster moves that we made (this weekend). We waived Jonathon Amaya, claimed number 25 safety Rafael Bush who was in (training) camp at Denver. We terminated corner Elbert Mack, claimed number 31 cornerback Jerome Murphy who was at St. Louis. The other guys that we signed were (for) the practice squad, defensive end Braylon Broughton, Ezra Butler at linebacker, Harland Gunn at guard, Ricky Henry as a guard, brought back tight end Michael Higgins, Nick Hixson at corner, Jerico Nelson at safety and wide receiver Andy Tanner. Those are our practice squad signings and then last night we elected captains. The team voted for these captains, two on offense, and two on defense and one on specials teams. The two offensive captains were quarterback Drew Breesand offensive tackle, Zach Strief. The defensive captains were safety Roman Harper and our other safety Malcolm Jenkins. The special teams captain was Courtney Roby. I would like to talk about the injury report on Wednesday, not today. Today we went out and had an initial early start, a jump on the Washington Redskins. We had three periods of team and got some first and second down work done. They were playing really fast. We went away for the hurricane, came back and this was a chance to get those guys’ legs fresh from camp and it looked like they were playing very quick today.”

How do you feel now that you are in this role?

“Like I said the last time I said it at this short table, it’s a case. I’m following the formula so anytime you have a plan; you have a good sense that things are going to go well. We have a good plan here. I’m following the plan and the team is with us.”

Did you spend any more time away from the offensive line today at practice than you ordinarily would?

“No. I did the normal amount of offensive line coaching and during team (periods) I was able to see both sides of the ball.”

Does Brian Young take over for Joe Vitt as linebackers coach?

“They are working it out on defense. I’d rather not talk about that. They are spreading the work there.”

METAIRIE — Monday may have been a holiday for most people, but it wasn’t unlike any other day for New Orleans Saints offensive line coach/running game coordinator Aaron Kromer.

Kromer officially became the Saints interim coach, taking over from Joe Vitt as the team began preparing for Sunday’s regular-season opener with the Washington Redskins in the Mercedes- Benz Superdome.

Even in his new position, Kromer said he didn’t feel any differently as he carried out his usual duties with the offensive line during what suspended coach Sean Payton likes to call a bonus practice.

“I did the normal amount of offensive line coaching,” Kromer said. “And during team (periods), I was able to see both sides of the ball.”

He said it was all about following the plan Payton laid out before he was forced to leave the team in April as a result of his season-long suspension for misleading NFL investigators looking into the bounty scandal.

“I’m following the formula … so anytime you have a plan, you have a good sense that things are going to go well,” Kromer said. “We have a good plan here. I’m following the plan, and the team is with us.”